Dramatis Personae:
Mansfield family
M / Olivia Jenkins-Mansfield 1945-married Nigel 1972
Nigel Mansfield 1943-2009
Judith Olivia Mansfield- 1973 (Sam)- children-Emily 2000 & Jason 2002
Ryan Nigel Mansfield 1975 (Sarah)- children-Elizabeth 2003
Marshall Mansfield 1941- (Josephine) 1943-2008 two children
Bond Family
Charmian Bond 1926-1999
James Bond 1935-71
Andrew Bond 1934-1979
Monique Delacroix- Bond 1941-1979
James Andrew Bond 1968-
Kincade 1936- Family friend and caretaker of Skyfall. Married to Anne 1940-2000
Maggie 1940- Friend of Kincade and Anne. Kincade hires her to cook for Skyfall
MacKenzie family
Callum MacKenzie Sr. 1910-1980
Katrina MacKenzie 1936- Son - Alistair MacKenzie 1960-divorced -Grandson-Callum 1986-
Callum MacKenzie 1938- (Married 1970 Jane) widowed 2 daughters-
Fiona MacKenzie 1971- unmarried
Kenna MacKenzie 1973- divorced no children.
Tracy MacKenzie 1938-1965 twin of Callum
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Chapter 25
"Judi...open the door. I need to explain…"
The door swings open suddenly and Judi looks angry and frustrated.
"What mother...now you will tell me about your non-existent feelings for Tanner but that he is in love with you too and has just been using me as the next best thing...that is already apparent!"
Olivia pushes into Charmian Bond's old room and sighs. "Judi...Bond is alive. We were very excited with the news that is all. Tanner kissed me out of happiness and that is all. I need to get ready for dinner so if you are done with the self pity session can you grow up and go actually speak with Bill. He will tell you the same bloody thing!"
"I saw him kiss you and say he couldn't resist you."
Olivia frowns. "What you heard was the end of a conversation we were having about you, young lady."
"Really?"
"Yes now head down there and help your brother make dinner for the three of you. Kincade and I will be out."
"I am very happy Bond is alright mum...really. I am sorry I overreacted too."
"Not really Judi...you like him and I know now, just how much. Just remember you still have a husband to deal with when you get home."
"Argh...don't remind me. Don't you forget your sexy lover is on his way back as Callum grabs your knee under the bloody table."
Olivia smiles at her daughter. "I won't and Kincade is my bodyguard remember."
"Yes but won't he be too distracted by his former lover to make sure Callum isn't coming on to you."
"I will be fine on my own and even better once James returns."
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Joan and Ian left Bond asleep for far longer than he wanted but he really needed it. James managed to have the car rental agency run his card over the phone but then the power went out and he could not call home.
Ian drove Bond into the agency for Bond to get the car. Bond knew they would not take money for helping him so he left some notes in the backseat of their range rover.
There is no way to contact M but base will know he is alive from having his card flagged. Q will let M know he is on his way back to her. His only concern is that White is moving faster than he is.
White might now know that Bond was not killed by his henchmen and that may scare him to the continent rather than anywhere near M.
The rain is bad and it will be 9 at least by the time he makes it to Skyfall and M. Hopefully, the weather will decrease the chances of White getting any mercenaries to Skyfall.
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M dressed casually because of the weather. Jeans and a cowl neck jumper along with Wellingtons to complete the rural ensemble.
The drive is fine the rain only just starting but the wind is incredible.
"So the lad should be home later tonight and I am glad for the two of you. Hopefully all the drama will end once you get him back and say yes."
"I will say yes as soon as he asks again. Now I just have to hope he has not gone off the idea."
"That...my dear will never happen."
The reach the manor home of the MacKenzies, and are greeted warmly at the door by Katrina and Callum.
"Do come in. I am so glad you made it in this storm...if it gets too bad you two may just have to be our guests for the night." Katrina says with a wink Kincade.
Callum wraps M in a hug after he takes her coat and helps steady her as she gets out of her Wellingtons.
"Come in...it is just the four of us this evening as the girls are staying over in Glasgow for last minute party supplies." Katrina adds as they move into the sitting room.
Callum moves to the bar and gets everyone a drink before they sit down to dinner.
"It will be good to meet the young James." Katrina says, "I hear from Kenna that he is a very beautiful man."
"Oh he is...a taken and very beautiful." M smiles as she says it.
Kincade gives her a wink as they settle down to enjoy their drinks. A huge crash of thunder echoes and smashed through the soft music that is playing. The power flickers but stays on.
"Good thing I have the meal done and just staying warm." Katrina says as Callum moves about the room lighting candles just in case the power goes.
"Kincade will you come help me with dinner while my brother lights a fire. It will be nice and cozy in here if the power fails. We can eat by candlelight just to make it romantic."
Kincade smiles and follows Katrina down the hall and into the kitchen of the large home.
"So my dear. Have you thought of what I asked you yesterday?"
"Well I did, but to start Callum...I need to tell you something. What I said was for the benefit of your sister."
"So the beautiful mysterious Em is even more intriguing than I originally thought."
"Not really. I thought if I made it seem like I was fooling around with Kincade it would motivate her to stake her claim."
"That is did. I know that their relationship has festered on and off long distance over the years. I...like you think they need to be together now...for the son and grandson also. Let all the ghosts lie and move towards some happiness for the rest of their lives. Once my father died...they could have been together but Kincade had married and was happy with Annie."
"Yes...that is how it works sometimes. One is free and the other...has a different love."
Callum moves closer to M on the sofa and places a hand on her knee. M covers it with her own and pulls it off her leg.
"The other matter is that I am spoken for and cannot become your lover. My past acting performance aside. I am sorry for it seeming at all like I was leading you to believe otherwise Callum. It was not my attention to garner this much attention from you or Kincade."
"Em I could not help but think you beautiful. I will always be available should you need a friend."
M smiles. "Friendship is always acceptable."
Callum winks at her. "The type of friends who occasionally sleep together even better." Callum leans over to her and kisses her suddenly.
M pulls back suddenly and puts her hand up between them on his chest as he continues to move towards her.
"Please...I don't need a friend with benefits Callum...I can assure you I am more than taking care of in that department."
"Lucky bloke. You can't kill a man for trying."
"Well, actually if my lover finds out...he may be tempted to try."
More thunder crashes and the lights go out...they wait...nothing.
"It looks like the god of thunder is on our side for a romantic candlelit dinner Em."
Kincade comes in the room with a candle. "Kat says for you two to come eat now that she can no longer keep the food warm with the power out."
Callum offers his hand to M which she takes.
They take their seats in the dining room and begin to dish out and pass the food around.
"Katrina this all looks lovely. The candle light is nice…." Thunder smashes outside.
"Oh my!" Katrina says as she reaches for Kincade's hand on the table. "Yes I love candle light too but this storm is something else."
"Do you get many storms like this here?" M asks wanting to steer control of the dinner conversation this evening to avoid any awkward question she is not willing to answer.
Callum answers. "No not really but it has been surprisingly hot and humid since yesterday."
Callum gives M a sly look as if she had something to do with that.
"So how are the plans for the party coming along and do you need any help? My children can lend a hand for any physical labour you may need. Do you need us to bring any food or extras to help out?"
"Oh no. We are catering it and have hired helpers for a large tent outside. There will be a crew of young friends of Callum's around to have a lively time outside while the older adults can escape to the inside where it will be likely less noisy." Callum says.
"How many are coming Cal?" Kincade asks nervously.
"Around 75-100. There will be plenty of people from town. Callum's university friends and Alistair's friends from London and business associates. Don't worry Kincade...I am sure Katrina wants you here Friday evening to meet with the son and grandson before the big party."
"Well, I was wonderin about that. Are you going to tell them Kat?"
"Yes of course...and I should have done it long ago. I never said anything to him growing up about his father. I just said he never knew about him and that I wanted to raise him by myself."
"Alistair accepted that answer?" M asks.
"Yes and we had a comfortable life. My father made sure of it. It would have been more difficult had he not, and Callum helped too for that matter."
"I suppose but now what do you think they will say when they are confronted by me?"
"Kincade it is water under the bridge by now. I told my nephew years ago what his grandfather was like...not the kind version he was use to seeing but the vicious controlling man he was. Gruff and cruel at times but a victim himself of a broken heart years before."
"His heart was broken and it cracked my father's head. That and me being born first and a girl was of little use to him. He only wanted boys and thank god one of the twins was. Our mother had miscarried a son between my birth and the birth of the twins. That made my mother cry for months."
"Oh my that is terrible." M says sympathetically.
"Yes it was and the fear I had once I found out I was pregnant. I tell you this I prayed it was a boy. A boy would be accepted by him regardless..even if the father was unknown. If Alistair had been a girl...I don't know what would have happened."
Kincade looks put out and angry again. "That man was always such an ogre. No one was good enough and women...well the only one he ever had respect for was Charmian. Old Mr. Bond was ecstatic that he had a daughter and that just baffled your old man."
"God yes. Charmian Bond was as fierce a woman as any man...it made sense once you figured out she had no use for men in that department. Once that came out...Mr. Bond was silent. We kept that from our father...that would not have gone over well." Katrina adds.
M cannot comment on Charmian or it will come out that she was that woman dolly from so long ago.
"My husband was ecstatic to have a daughter also. The two of them were thick as thieves. Did your father never warm up to you Katrina? That would have been an awful way to grow up."
"I personally was glad of his lack of attention. My mother was a wonderful woman who I cherish and she and I tried to protect poor Callum from the misery of father as much as possible. It was easier because he was a twin. Father was very proud to have twins...he thought it some higher measure of manhood."
"I know...not just the result of genetics from our mother's side." Callum says sarcastically. "Let's move away from discussing the miserableness of the old man and concentrate on the future and the boys meeting Kincade."
"Yes. Kincade I would not worry and yes you are coming to a private family dinner the night before. I apologize Em but the family needs to get the introduction over first before the party."
"No need to apologize Katrina it is completely understandable. We will be having a family meal of our own minus one now."
"Who could that be?" Katrina asks with a wink at Kincade.
"Mr. Kincade is the representative of James' family here and he has become the figurehead of Skyfall."
"Awe...thank you for saying that lass. I am glad to have looked after the old pile for so long. Gave me something to keep me busy."
They all laugh as they finish up the meal.
They manage to try to clean up from dinner as Callum finds a battery operated radio. The news is on warning about the dangers of the storm.
"We should have some more wine by the fire and play cards." Callum offers.
They all move into the sitting room again and get comfortable as the thunder hits and lighting brightens the sky.
M's mobile rings. She excuse herself into the hall to answer the call.
Mum the storm is really bad...are you coming home still tonight?
"We still plan to but Callum has offered for us to stay the night."
I know that Bond is on his way...he managed to stop for petrol and get a message to Q...he could not manage to reach you but we know that the service goes in and out.
"Yes I am surprised you got through. The radio is warning caution but James will ignore that. Did Q say anything more?"
He...id...Whi….is...and….know...close...lock….possible...guns...mum...hear...what! Storm...stay….driv...ing...dange…ous...ok...
"Judi? Jude!"
Damn the connexion is lost...what on earth. Now she doesn't know if she should stay or if they should go.
M rejoins the others. "Judi just called barely got through and they recommend we accept your offer to stay the night."
Katrina smiles. "Good you should definately stay. We can drink a little too much and get silly. Maybe play charades."
M is concerned...she really wants to be at Skyfall when James returns.
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Ryan, Tanner and Judi sit and eat leftovers as the storm begins to rage. Tanner just checked in with London and the power went out.
They found candles and Judi calls her mum on her mobile.
"We were cutting in and out but I told her and Kincade not to risk driving back. Callum offered that they spend the night."
Ryan raises his eyebrows, "I bet he did."
Tanner looks between the two siblings. "What?"
"I told you didn't I Bill? Callum wants casual sex with our mum."
"What!"
"So mum will have to make sure she locks the guest room door. I hope Bond does not freak out when he get here." Judi says.
"I know James Bond well enough to not doubt his driving...unless the road is gone...and even then he will make it. As for how he will feel when M is not here...I don't want to be the one to tell him."
The storm swirls around them with booming noise and a sudden bang at the door. The three of them jump at the sound and then laugh.
Judi looks through the soft glow from the candles.
"Funny how storms make everyone jumpy. Even more so now that the lights have gone out. I am so glad I managed to reach mum before the connexion was lost."
Ryan gets up and goes to the cupboard. "Why don't we find a board game to waste some time before bed? Here is clue...let's play this one."
"You only want that because you always win that one Ryan."
"There is not much else and no one wants to stay up all night to play monopoly by candle light."
"True." Tanner says.
They settle down around the coffee table and begin the game. More thunder and wind.
Ryan shakes his head. "I do hope Kincade will keep mum there. I don't think after drinking they should drive in this storm."
Tanner nods his head. "No matter what Bond says about it I agree. I will stay up and wait for Bond regardless. I have the house locked up on Q's suggestion but who would go out in this?"
"I wouldn't." Judi says.
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James can barely see out the window but he keeps going. At least there is no one else out on a night like this. The landrover he rented manages to maneuver through the water soaked roads.
Bond just needs to get back to her. He is already a day late and he has one single minded desire...his bed with M in it naked and waiting for him.
The radio tells of washed out roads and poor condition over most of Scotland.
An hour later James is about to turn down the lane to Skyfall when he sees three vehicles parked by the entrance and one by the Kirk...he has a bad feeling about this.
In the distance there are torch lights visible moving over the moor.
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There is a banging at the door. Tanner gets up. "Bond must be here."
As Tanner reaches the door it explodes inward knocking Tanner to the ground and he lies still.
The wind crashes though extinguishing the flames from the candles as lightning strikes again and several torches shine inward.
Judi screams and Ryan pushes her behind him as men with guns rush the room.
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The game ends and Katrina yawns. "I think I would like to go to bed. Callum...make sure M gets set up in Fiona's room...I will see to Kincade."
Katrina takes Kincade's hand and take a candle and walks out of the sitting room.
M feels a bit nervous and stands to follow. Callum takes her hand. "I will offer again M...if you would like to share my bed...I would be more than happy too."
"No. I'm sorry Callum but I am spoken for."
"Such is the way with beautiful women. Come you can take Fiona's room. If you get scared I am just across the hall."
M takes her own candle and climbs the stairs with Callum following.
Callum is escorting M in to show her the room. Thunder crashes and irrational fears of loud noises makes her jump back into him. Callum holds M's shoulders and her back up against his body as he leans to whisper into her ear.
"M...are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep with me? No sex required I assure you."
"No...I will be fine. I was just startled."
Callum does not let go right away and instead kisses her neck whispering words of adoration and longing.
"Callum...please. I cannot." M shakes out of his grip and walks further into the room. The pale glow from her candle illuminating the bed.
"I apologize Em. I really wish you would let yourself go on this. Society has changed and as older people there is no risk of pregnancy...why not enjoy the opportunities that come our way."
"I thought the free love and expression was over by the 70's Callum. I am sorry but I am loyal to a fault and I will not cheat on my partner."
Callum sighs. "Alright. Goodnight and should you become scared my door is alway open."
"Goodnight Callum. It was a lovely dinner and I did have a very good time."
Callum turns and leaves the room and M follows him closing the door and pausing for a moment until she hears his door close and then she locks hers.
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Bond stops the land rover and sees flares around the door of the house below.
Damn it!
White is here!
White nor his men will not leave here alive.
Bond takes his knife and gets out to deal with the tires of the other vehicles. He climbs back in his, to work his way the back way to the house. The rain has made it difficult but he still remembers the way Kincade alway drove in when he was younger.
Bond stops the range rover behind a rise and exits...the thunder and lightning dominate the area. The water soaks him as he makes his way to the back door...gun drawn. It is locked...Bond goes to the loose stone on the window ledge and finds the hidden key.
James moves faster when he thinks he hears a woman's scream.
To be continued...